Wheel and axle assembly



May 16, 1944. H. c. FRENCH ET AL WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 26, 1942 INVENTOR6 C .9 M

777m vmemf Patented May 16, 1944 WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY Henry 0. French, Elm Grove, Win, and Robert T.

Hendrickson, Chicago, 11].;

said French asslgnor to The Hell 00., Milwaukee, Win, a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 28, 1942, SerialNo. 470,260

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wheel and axle assemblies.

A general object oi the invention is to provide an inexpensive and efllcient, but easily manufactured multiple pinion reduction wheeiand axle assembly adapted for incorporation in heavy duty trucks, tractors, and wheeled vehicles which require relatively large total rear axle reductions.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a wheel and axle assembly of the character described wherein a portion of the axle assembly carries a collar which serves to hold a tubular load carrying axle in proper longitudinal position, and which also serves, through a spline connection, to prevent a telescopically mounted gear spider from rotating.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide, in a wheel and axle assembly of the character described, a collar member which serves to non-rotatably anchor a telescopically mounted gear spider directly to the axle housing, whereby the structure is extremely rigid and strong.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a wheel and axle assembly wherein roller bearings are interposed between the wheel and the gear spider with provision for easily adjusting said bearings.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a wheel and axle assembly incorporated in a self-propelled vehicle, wherein the assembly is exteriorly accessible without any dismantling of the axle, and wherein adjustments and replacement of parts is easily accomplished with the vehicle in a normal position without'the necessity of jacking up said wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel and axle assembly which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable, is relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved wheel and axle assembly, and their parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in both of the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the wheel-carrying portion of the improved wheel and axle assembly as provided for a truck; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will appear that the improved wheel and axle assembly includes an inner, relatively small diameter torsional axle. designated generally by the numeral 5 which extends between the opposite rear driving wheels of a heavy duty truck, tractor,

or similar self-propelled wheeled vehicle. The torsional axle I is formed of two endwise abutting sections which meet and abut within a standard differential carrier (not shown). In the drawing the assembly ofparts on only one side is illustrated and will be referred to inasmuch as the assembly on the opposite side duplicates the structure illustrated and described.

A section of the torsional axle 5 is revolubly enclosed by a load-carrying axle section 6. Said load-carrying axle section, inwardly of the axle assembly, is enclosed by a housing One end portion of the housing is secured to a side of the differential carrier, and the other end portion of the housing, which is flanged as at 8, extends into a brake drum 9. Intermediate portions of the housing I carry supports i0 aifording connections between the, axle assembly ands the chassis (not shown) of the vehicle.

An important feature of the present invention is a collar II which has a tubular portion H surrounding an outer extension of the load-carrying axle 6. This portion of the collar has a pressed fit with the enclosed portion of the load carrying axle to prevent rotation and axial movement. It will be observed that the load-carrying axle is provided with an annular external shoulder i2 with which the inner end of the tubular portion ll of the collar is in abutment. Through this abutment, when the parts are properly secured and adjusted, the tubular load-carrying axle is securely held in its proper longitudinal position relative to the other "elements of the assembly. The collar II is formed with an annular flange which is secured to the'flange 8 of the axle housing I by a plurality of bolts l3. An outward tubular extension H of the collar ii is spaced from the load-carrying axle 6 and there is interposed between said portion of the collar and the loadcarrying axle an inner end portion of a telescopic spider ii. The adjacent surfaces of the collar portion i4 and the-spider l5 have milled or machined thereon complementary meshing spline elements It and I1 respectively.

The telescopic spider l5 has an enlarged outer is operable in the assembly is closed nuts are normally against an annularshoulder 33 formed in a perlof the inner assemb y y boltstion of the spider l5, and adapted to revolve relative thereto, is the hub portion 2| of'a wheel 22. Between said hub portion 2| of the wheel and the sleeve portion of spider 15, are sets of adjustable roller bearings 23. The space between the hub 2| and the spider sleev is adapted to be filled with a lubricant and is sealed by grease and oil seal members 24.

The inner head plate 25 of the wheel has bolted thereto the brake drum 9 previously referredtoz- The brake drum 9 will revolve with the wheel 22 relative to the load-carrying axle 6. The improved wheel and axle assembly permits the use of a standard form-of brakev wherein a shoe 26 usual manner to cause fric tional application of a brake lining 21 to the inner surface of the drum 9.

The ears 19 of the spider head 18 have revolubly mounted thereon idler pinions 28 which mesh with the central driving pinion 20. The idler pinions 28 additionally mesh with the teeth-of a large ring gear 29 which is carried fast by the inner annular wall of an extended drum portion of the wheel 22. The end portion of the entire by an outer cover plate 30 removably bolted to the end of the wheel extension drum portion.

The outer end of the load-carrying axle 6 is slightly reduced and is externally threaded as at II. This portion of the load-carrying axle projects into a suitable recess within the head por-- tion of the spider. Said threaded portion 3| of the load carrying axle removably and adjustably carries locking and adjustment nuts 32. These drawn up so as to impinge tion of the spider and serve to retain the spider in a proper position of longitudinal adjustment on the load-carrying axle and to retain the splines l8 of the spider in engagement with the complementary splinesl'l of the collar portion H. Additionally the proper position of theload-carrying axle 6 is assured by the abutment of the inner end of the collar portion II with the axle shoulder [2. Through the means described it is also possible to eflect axial adjustments of the wheel 22 and adjustments of the wheel bearings 23.

Interiorly of the,- outer plate 30 is a smaller plate 34 which is removably attached to the end Said plate 34 covers the end portion of the driving pinion and serves as a thrust plate for the inner torsional axle 5.

' The operation of the improved wheel and axle assembly should be apparent from the description.

Power is transmitted to the small diameter torsional axle Swhereby the driving pinion 29 at the outer end of the same is turned. Power is transmitted at the desired rate of speed from the driving pinion 20, through the intermediate pinions 28, to the large ring gear 29. The latter is integral with the wheel 22. As a result, the wheel is revolved on the sleeve portion of the spider l5 which surrounds the outer end portion of the load-carrying axle 6, but the spider is prevented from rotation by virtue of its splined engagement with the anchored collar I I. A particular advantage of the construction is the nonrotatable securement of the spider sleeve directly to the collar l l, which in turn is securely anchored directly to the axle housing. The latter provides a large and rigid surface for this anchorage. A dual function is performed by the collar II. It provides the effective positive anchorage for the spider sleeve, as before mentioned, while permit- In making adjustments and replacement of parts it is not necessary .to jack upthewhee'l or the tractor, and the-same may remain in its normalground-engaging position. For adjustments or parts replacements, it is only necessary to remove the'plates 30- and 31, whereuponthe telescopically relatedrparts may be withdrawn -outwardly and access maybe had to the adjust 'ingnuts32.

From the foregoing descriptiorr' it will appear that the improvedwheel and axle assembly is of simple and efficient construction, provides ior great rigidity and strength, while permitting -access to and. adjustment of parts, and is well adapted for the purposesdescri-bed.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A wheel and axle assembly, comprising a tubular, fixedly, mounted axle housing. a collar secured to the: housing and having a sleeve extending therewithin, a tubular outer. axle nonrotatablyextended through said collar and sleeve, an external portion of said outer axle being formed with a shoulder in abutment with an end of said I collar sleeve to prevent axial displacement of said outer axle, a spider telescopically enclosing the outer end portion of said outer axle and having a splined connection with said collar, a wheel revolubly mounted on said spider, a driven inner axle extending revolubly through said outer axle, and motion transmitting means between the outer end otsaid inner axle and the wheel.

2. A 7 wheel and axle assembly, comprising a tubular outlraxle having a positive shoulder, a

, fixedly mounted axle housing spacedly surroundportion of a second ing a portion-of the outer axle, a collar removably anchored to the housing and having a tubular sleeve portion of one diameter tightly embracing a' portion or the outer axle within the housing and having an end thereof abutting said outerlaxle shouldensaid collar having a tubular diameter, a spider telescopically enclosing another portion of the outer axle and extending into the last-mentioned collar portion and having an internal splined connection therewith, a wheel revolubly mounted on said spider, a driven inner axle extending revolubly through said outer axle, and motion transmitting means between the outer end of said inner axle and the wheel.

3. A wheel and axle assembly, comprising a tubular outer axle having a positive shdulder, a fixedly mounted axle housing spacedly surrounding a portion of the outer axle, a collar anchored to the housing and having a tubular sleeve portion of one diameter tightly embracing a portion of the outer axle within the housing and having an end thereof abutting said outer axle shoulder, said collar having a tubular portion of a second diameter, a spider telescopically enclosing another portion of the outer axle and extending into the last-mentioned collar portion and having an internal splined connection therewith, adjustable and removable means on the outer end portion of the outer axle and engaging the spider to retain it in a desired position of axial adjustment relative to the outer axle, a wheel revolubly mounted on said spider, a driven inner axle extending revolubly through said outer axle, and motion transmitting means between the outer end of said inner axle and the wheel.

4. A wheel and axle assembly, comprising a outer axle in an outward direction, said collar motion transmitting means between the outer tubular outer axle having a positiv shoulder, a splined connection therewith. adjustsble and refixedly mounted axle housing spocedly surround- I movable means on the outer end portion of the ofvthe outer side within the housing and having outer axle in the other direction, a wheel revoluan end portion thereof abutting said outer axle bly mounted on said spider, a driven inn er axle shoulder to prevent axial displacement of the extending revolubly through said outer axle,- and the outer axle and extending into the last-men-t 1lllgiNI'-',ISTC .PFRENCH. E HENDRICKSON. 

